The second part of “Outer Banks” season four premiered on Netflix this past Thursday, Nov. 7. In what should’ve been a prominent release week for one of Netflix’s most popular shows, focus has been shifted from the actual content to the behind-the-scenes drama. From cast breakups, a new release model and unpopular plotlines, “Outer Banks” season four has been nothing short of messy. Fans may be glad to hear about “Outer Banks” season five renewal, but for the wrong reasons, as it was announced to be the show’s final season. Spoilers ahead for season four of “Outer Banks.”
When talking about cast breakups in relation to “Outer Banks,” the 2021 breakup of lead couple Chase Stokes and Madelyn Cline immediately comes to mind. This year, fans and media attention shifted to a friendship breakup between on-screen couple Rudy Pankow and Madison Bailey. The two appeared to be close friends during the first two seasons of “Outer Banks,” hanging out off-set and mentioning each other on social media. However, something shifted, and the pair began to distance themselves on social media and in press interviews. A popular rumor explaining why Pankow and Bailey are no longer friends pertains to fans shipping them and their characters—before Pankow and Bailey’s characters became canon in season three—which possibly made things awkward for their real-life partners.
Although this falling out was rumored during the airing of “Outer Banks” season three and the first part of season four, the second part of season four revealed additional details. Stunt doubles were allegedly used for scenes including JJ (Pankow) and Kiara (Bailey). While stunt doubles are very common for action television shows, these stunt doubles weren’t used for a fight scene, but rather a cuddling scene. It appears that in the 10th episode of season four, a stunt double is used for JJ while Kiara is laying on him at the beach. In the scene, the couple is shown laying on each other, but the scene is cut so JJ and Kiara are never on screen at the same time. Fans pointed out that you can see the stunt double’s face in the episode, with X user @bellaisa20012 including a screen grab they found.
This drama extends beyond the cuddling scene, as there are consequences for character plots. JJ, a central character since the show’s debut in 2020, was killed off in the season finale. Fans have theorized that the actor asked to be killed off to exit the show, although creators Shannon Burke and the Pate brothers, Josh and Jonas, said they always knew JJ would die.
This choice was controversial, with fans stating that JJ and the rest of the “Pogues” deserved better, and that a show about found family should prioritize said found family. JJ’s death isn’t the only questioned plot line stemming from “Outer Banks” season four, as the sudden pregnancy of Sarah (Cline) was deemed insensitive and unnecessary by fans. In an interview with Cosmopolitan, the showrunners reveal their motive behind Sarah’s pregnancy, stating that they gave her a baby because she wasn’t ready for one—a conversation had in the first part of season four). “Outer Banks” fans took to social media to rant about these major plot lines, with X user @amadsdiallo saying, “It’s just like a writers room of men to write a girl explaining that she’s only 19 and doesn’t want kids just yet to then burden that girl by making her pregnant.”
This major development for Stokes’ John B. Rutledge and Cline’s Sarah Cameron also drew fans to compliment the former couple’s professionalism, with the couple’s chemistry at an all-time high this season. Pankow and Bailey’s behavior pales in comparison to the professional relationship maintained by Stokes and Cline, despite their romantic history.
While the creators and cast of “Outer Banks” season four likely wish attention was focused on the show the fans would be remised to ignore the drama going on behind the set. There isn’t much content to focus on, with only five of the season’s episodes coming out in the second part—and who wants to think about the killing off of a fan-favorite? “Outer Banks” legacy may be better off concluding after one last season, since they’re seemingly spinning out of control.